“Andrew Constance is a former treasurer, a former transport minister working at the highest levels of government,” Speakman said on Wednesday.
Speakman said Constance’s appointment was “the product of an executive search … a competitive process, and he has come out as the best candidate”.
Labor MP Fiona Phillips beat Constance to win the ultra-marginal seat of Gilmore.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The Herald has contacted Constance for comment.
White said Constance brought more than 18 years of public service experience to the council’s top job, including as the member for Bega from 2003 to 2021. She noted Constance had held senior ministerial portfolios, including finance, industrial relations, ageing and disability services.
Phillips said White, as well as assistant deputy mayor Selena Clancy, an Independent, and Jason Cox, who is also a member of the Shoalhaven Independent Group, were “actively supporting” Constance during the federal election campaign.
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“Mr Constance has no local government employment experience. This smacks of political bastardry. There must have been other applicants on the merit list with local government employment experience,” Phillips said.
She said she planned to raise her concerns about Constance’s appointment on a five-year contract, which comes with a salary of about $400,000, with Hoenig.
Hoenig said he had requested the Office of Local Government to “conduct a preliminary investigation under the Local Government Act into the manner of the appointment”.
“Not only is the general manager the most important position, but it requires proven skills in management, finance and administration,” Hoenig said.
Speakman, in his remarks defending Constance’s appointment, said if the “Member for Gilmore is concerned about jobs for the boys, she should be talking about Josh Murray”.
The Minns government’s decision to hire Murray, a former Labor staffer, as transport secretary drew intense criticism from the Coalition, who described it as a “jobs for the boys” appointment in 2023.
Shoalhaven City Council said Constance got the job following a “comprehensive recruitment process” led by the council and supported by independent advisers Stephen Blackadder Consulting.
The consultancy firm’s managing director, Stephen Blackadder, said: “We were incredibly impressed by the depth and diversity of talent that applied for the [chief executive] role.
“After a rigorous and competitive selection process, we’re confident that the successful candidate is the best possible choice.”
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Blackadder, who has previously held the role of chief executive at several NSW councils, has recently been mentioned at the Office of Local Government’s public inquiry into Liverpool City Council.
The inquiry has heard Blackadder was involved in recruiting the council’s ousted chief executive John Ajaka, a former Liberal minister and NSW upper house president, who was hired as CEO in 2022 and sacked last year after his relationship with Liberal Mayor Ned Mannoun had soured.
Constance begins in his role next week. Interim chief executive Brian Barrett has acted in the position for two months.
